50 Kaxsas academy of Sciexce. 



similar light hydrocarbon, it could readily be changed into illuminating gas. When 

 this gas bnrns, no sulphur compounds are given off, and the products of the com- 

 bustion would be only carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) and water. This process would only be 

 of value where cobs were very cheap and abundant. If it were possible to heat the 

 retort by means of the cob charcoal, or some other waste material, this would dimin- 

 ish the expense. 



By burning the cobs in an open stove, it was found that they would yield a little 

 over one per cent, of ash. This ash on analysis contained the following substances: 



Per cent. ' Per cent. 



Silica and insoluble residue 38.13 Sulphuric anhydride 1.40 



Alumina 2.02 Chlorine 57 



Ferric oxide 3.91 Sodic carbonate 2.59 



Phosphoric anhydride 5.27 Potassic carbonate 38.65 



Calcic oxide 1-71 . Moisture and carbon traces. 



Magnesic oxide 2.18 



The valuable materials in this ash are the phosphoric anhydride and the potassic 

 carbonate. One thousand pounds of cobs would therefore yield ten pounds of ash, 

 which would contain about one-half a pound of phosphoric anhydride, and three and 

 eight-tenths pounds of potash. Ordinary wood contains from four- tenths to three 

 and nine-tenths pounds of potash per one thousand pounds. Corn-stalks are very 

 rich, containing seventeen and one-half pounds per thousand. 



IS THE ALKALOIDAL STEEXGTH OF TEA AX IXDEX OF ITS 

 COMMERCIAL VALUE ? 



BY PROF. L. E. SAYRE, 

 Department of Pharmacy, Kansas State University. 



It will be seen from the title of this paper that the following chemical assay of 

 some of the tea of the market was made with a view of ascertaining, if possible, the 

 relation between alkaloidal strength and commercial value. 



The popular belief is that the higher-priced teas are stronger in theine (alkaloid) 

 than the cheaper grades. The following figures will serve to show the truth or fallacy 

 of this belief. 



For examination, eleven samples were selected, representative of some of the 

 different brands upon the market. They were as follows: 

 1. Formoso Oolong 90 cents per ft). , 7. Imperial 65 cents per ft) 



2. Formoso Oolong 60 



3. Japan 70 



i. Japan 25 



5. Young Hyson 70 



6. Young Hyson 40 



8. Gunpowder 70 



9. Gunpowder 50 



10. Tea dust, green 20 



11. Tea dust, dark 20 



Ten grams of the powdered leaf were mixed intimately with two grams of cal- 

 cined magnesia; the mixture, coarsely powdered, was treated with 100 cc. of boiling 

 distilled water. The boiling was continued five minutes. The whole was transferred 

 to a percolator, and the residue percolated with .50 cc. of boiling distilled water. 

 The dregs were then returned to the beaker and boiled again with 100 cc. of water; 

 transferred to a percolator, and then percolated until exhausted. The percolate was 

 then evaporated on a water-bath to about 20 cc, and transferred to a separator. 

 The alkaloid (theine) was then washed from this concentrated percolate by means 

 of chloroform, using three or four portions of 25 cc, each successively, (the last 

 washing leaving upon evaporation no residue.) The washings were then mixed and 



